Two divided into three equals success

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Can a two-year program be divided into three years and produce successful graduates? Can students attend part time on an evening and weekend only schedule and be successful? Success is typically measured by completion of a nursing program, success on the NCLEX-RN Exam, and placement into an RN role of the student's choice. Often students in the traditional associate nursing program fail to complete or pass the licensure exam or drop out during the two-year program. They have trouble retaining nursing material for two years if they attend full-time; providing a part-time program would require students to retain knowledge and skills over a three-year period. You must be delusional! However, it can be done, and this session will discuss a successful model for a part-time evening/weekend program for AD nursing. Discussion will address the following questions: How must a curriculum change? What must the faculty do to help assure the students retain the material? How? What? When? Where?

A pilot program was developed at Roane State Community College to deliver a modified curriculum in a part-time format on an evening/weekend schedule so that non-traditional students would have another option to attend nursing school. The pilot class recently completed the program and successfully completed NCLEX-RN with a 100% passing rate. What changes were made in the curriculum, faculty, testing, and student selection to assure success? This session offers participants the opportunity to hear about a successful model of alternative curriculum and delivery.